On The Upgrade
Fairview 21st November: They raced on the turf on Friday where the fastest of the three 1200m races was the conditions plate won by the visiting HIGHLY DECORATED. Very well weighted on her earlier form, Justin Snaith’s charge was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and drew clear easily from there onwards to score by three.
The stable of champion trainer Justin Snaith were also on the mark with a first time visitor to the Eastern Cape when SHAKESPEAR’S LADY won the faster of the two 1800m events, a novice plate. Soon positioned close to the speed the 4yo daughter of Dynasty took up the running 450m out and went on to score very easily by five and a half.
The non-black type Guineas Plate for 3yo’s over 1600m topped the bill and here we saw another smart performance from the progressive KALAMAIN. Nibbled at on course into 6/1 from 7’s, Alan Greeff’s charge raced sixth of the eight for most of the journey. He didn’t find the clearest of passages when looking to make his move, but once switched out for a run he quickened well and under a well-judged ride from Greg Cheyne he got up late to deny RUSHING LARK (led 200m).
Titbits
A half-length runner up in the maiden plate over 1400m, ARABICA was hampered 400m out en-route from midfield.
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Tactical Change
Greyville 21st November: Friday night’s action took place on the poly track where fastest against the clock in the three 1600m events was FIRST FLIGHT in the MR78 Handicap. Always in touch with the leaders, the son of Jet Master ran on stoutly in the straight and in what proved to be a real thriller he got up in the very last stride to deny the front running AUTO PILOT.
The best bet on the card for most was TRIPLE APOLOGY in the maiden 1600m and in a time some 1,6 seconds slower than that of First Flight, he didn’t let down his supporters. Adopting a change of tactics here, the 5/10 favourite was taken straight to the front by Anthony Delpech and led throughout. He was always in command and ran out a comfortable winner from the running on NATTERJACK by two and a quarter.
The faster of the two maiden plates over 1200m was the boy’s affair won by CANADIAN CLUB. Another to lead from pillar to post, the 18/10 favourite kept on strongly in the straight and always had the chasing JEDAK held.
Titbits
Despite being a little troublesome at the start, green and slow into stride, the newcomer TRICK ran on well from the back when a length and a quarter runner up in the girl’s maiden event over 1200m.
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Four For JP
Vaal 22nd November: Five of the ten races run on the Vaal’s inside track on Saturday took place over 1400m, and fastest against the clock here was THE STONES when opening his account at the first time of asking in the second of three maiden plates over the trip. Sent off joint third in the betting market at 11/2, Dominic Zaki’s charge was soon at the helm. He was always clear and although BEYOND A DOUBT did narrow the gap a little in the closing stages of the race, The Stones only had to be pushed out and won with plenty in hand. Third placed AGAINST THE WIND ran on strongly from well off the pace in this race.
The fastest of the three 2000m maiden plates was the second division won by the aptly named STREAK. The third of four winners on the card for jockey Jean Paul V/D Merwe, the son of Ideal World raced in midfield for most of the trip. He quickened well when asked for his effort, and after striking the front 200m from home won in good style going away by five and a quarter.
A pinnacle stakes over 2400m topped the bill and here a bit of an upset was to be had when the recent maiden winner THE CENTENARY completed a quick double. Freely available at 16/1 on the off, the lesser fancied of Mike De Kock’s two runners lost a couple of lengths at the start, but despite that was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead going through the 400m and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat her stable companion SQUARE DANCE by three and a half.
Titbits
The newcomer GALILEE won the girl’s maiden plate over 1400m going away by four with some in hand.
PEEP SHOW ran on well from midfield when winning the novice 1400m going away.
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Not On My Clock
Kenilworth 22nd November: One of the highlights in Cape Town on Saturday was the Gr2 Green Point Stakes run over 1600m and here the July winner LEGISLATE extended his winning sequence to five. On leaving the stalls it was CAPTAIN AMERICA who elected to make the running whilst the son of Dynasty raced close up in third. He was ridden to lead going through the 300m and went on to win impressively from the 5yo Ashton Park. The race was officially run in course record time, but on a day where there were electrical problems at the circuit, my clock said otherwise. The third horse home in this race FUTURA finished very well from the rear.
The Gr2 Selangor Cup for 3yo’s over 1600m shared top billing and here we saw another smart performance from the up and coming ACT OF WAR. Always in the red, Joey Ramsden’s charge raced fourth during the early part of the race. He was asked to take up the running shortly after passing the 400m pole and with the rest well beaten he comfortably accounted for his running on stable companion KINGVOLDT by two and a quarter.
In terms of prize money the richest race on the card was the R2M Lanzarac Ready To Run Stakes over 1400m and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the Gauteng raider ZAMBEZI RIVER. Initially priced up as the 3/1 favourite, Sean Tarry’s charge was allowed to ease out to 9/2 at the track. Racing in midfield early on, the unbeaten son of Trippi began to take closer order at the top of the straight. The fancied local BRUTAL FORCE got first run and on striking the front 200m out, he looked to have done everything right. Zambezi River ran on stoutly below the distance though and under a well-judged ride from champion jockey S’manga Khumalo he won going away by three quarters.
Titbits
The 3yo SEVEN GRAND ran on well from the rear when only failing by the narrowest of margins to land the MR82 Handicap over 1400m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park (mon)
Race 1: (2) Triumvirate 18
Race 2: (1) Amaan 31
Race 3: (7) Summer Sari 25
Race 4: (15) Cowboy 25
Race 5: (11) Creative Stripe 65
Race 6: (8) Dynamic Star 26
Race 7: (5) Protest Song 60
Race 8: (1) Boarding Call 48
Race 9: (1) Irrebuttable 48
Scottsville (tues)
Race 1: (5) Fragrant Beauty 16 (NAP*)
Race 2: (2) King Neptune 69
Race 3: (8) Escovitch 20
Race 4: ( 6) Mogokity 16
Race 5: (13) Dancing Arrow 53
Race 6: (3) The Queen 48 (EW)
Race 7: (7) Chillingham 58
Race 8: (6) Regents Agency 49
Race 9: (1) Berthe 20
Turffontein (tues)
Race 1: (1) Sendintheclowns 24
Race 2: (3) Heywot 14
Race 3: (1) Cannes 12
Race 4: (1) Luca Delago 21
Race 5: (1) Wild Dancer 14
Race 6: (3) Greasepaint 72
Race 7: (13) Beza 50
Race 8: (10) Suedette 66
Race 9: (3) Azaniah 47
Kenilworth (wed)
Race 1: (9) Queen’s Jet 14
Race 2: (6) Aces United 18
Race 3: (12) Skylar Lane 18 (NAP*)
Race 4: (9) Princess Salme 71
Race 5: (7) Hurricane Wind 50
Race 6: (8) Night In Seattle 69 (nb)
Race 7: (2) Money Surger 50
Race 8: (11) Star Attorney 55
Race 9: (12) Zakuska 36
Vaal (thur)
Race 1: (9) Gondola Girl 18
Race 2: (4) Siroco Bay 4
Race 3: (3) Shadow Line 76
Race 4: (4) Pyramus 33
Race 5: (10) Olympic Bolt 59
Race 6: (7) Where’s My Chop 41
Race 7: (9) Conne Mara Black 53
Race 8: (10) Perfect Trip 50
Race 9: (9) Countess Bacardi 29
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Top rated winners last week included
Storm Surf won 5/1
Buzz won 15/4
Canadian Club won 18/10
Unannounced won 18/10
Your Lordship won 18/10
Majestic Bay won 7/10
Act Of War won 6/10
Triple Apology won 5/10
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Notebook:-
Act Of War (J Ramsden, W-Cape)
Futura (B Crawford, W-Cape)
Legislate (J Snaith, W-Cape)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Fairview 21st November
Penetrometer 24 – Going G/Soft
1000m (1) Shauntrel 58,42
1200m (3) Highly Decorated 69,39
1400m (2) Dancinginthedesert 85,95
1600m (1) Kalamain 99,85
1800m (2) Shakespear’s Lady 112,35
Greyville (poly) 21st November
1200m (2) Canadian Club 71,24
1400m (1) Storm Surf 83,80
1600m (3) First Flight 96,19
2000m (2) Buzz 124,09*
Vaal (inside) 22nd November
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
1000m (1) Cohiba 56,65
1400m (5) The Stones 83,10*
2000m (3) Streak 121,82
2400m (1) The Centenary 147,79
Kenilworth (old) 22nd November
1200m (2) Red Flame 73,27*
1400m (3) Zambezi River 86,64*
1600m (3) Legislate 96,45*
3200m (1) Putney Flyer 213,83*
